Five arrested in Hyndburn 'dog fight gang' swoop

RSPCA inspectors and along with specialist dog liaison officers, swooped on the properties after receiving information about suspected illegal breeds being kept for organised fights.

As well as the animals, items linked to dog fighting including treadmills, electric collars and medicines were also found following the raids in Haywood Road, Accrington, and Haslingden Old Road, Oswaldtwistle.

Four men, aged 47, 21, 43 and 57 and a 46-year-old woman were being questioned by officers on suspicion of possession of a fighting dog yesterday ((WED)).

The animals were taken to local kennels until their breed is confirmed. One was found to have suffered minor injuries.

Detective Inspector Simon Upton said the operation was about stopping animal cruelty and removing potentially dangerous dogs from the streets of East Lancashire.

He said: “We take the issue of dangerous dogs and alleged organised dog fighting very seriously and would encourage anyone with concerns to contact us.

“Keeping and training dogs for the purpose of fighting is both cruel and dangerous and will not be tolerated in Lancashire.

“Most dog owners care and look after their dogs very well but it is important to reduce the number of potentially dangerous dogs in local communities to make them safer.”

The raids were all carried out under section 23 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and searches of the premises were continuing yesterday.

Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA's special operations unit, said: "The operation is part of the RSPCA's on-going battle to wipe out organised dog fighting.

"The fact this barbaric activity was banned nearly 200 years ago, yet here we are today leading another investigation, shows the scale of the challenge we face.

"The sad reality is that there are people up and down the British Isles who are prepared to train and fight their dogs for their own sick entertainment.

“While these people continue to do so, we'll keep working alongside the police to try and catch them."

He said: "There is no excuse for owning a dangerous dog and the damage an out of control animal can cause can be devastating.

"I will do everything I can to support officers when it comes to tackling dangerous dogs in the county.”

Last week, changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act came into effect giving officers greater powers to tackle irresponsible owners.

The law has been extended and it is now an offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control in all places, including inside the dog owner’s home.

Previously, the maximum sentence for an aggravated dog attack was two years imprisonment. Under the new Act, the maximum prison sentence for an owner whose dog kills a person has been increased to 14 years.

Anyone with any information about dangerous dogs should contact call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Comments

Tie them up, cover them in jam and stick them next to a beehive naked!

Tie them up, cover them in jam and stick them next to a beehive naked!wilddog

Tie them up, cover them in jam and stick them next to a beehive naked!

Score: 31

noddy57
1:32pm Wed 21 May 14

scum bags, round them up and throw away the key they don,t belong to the human race, its idiots like these who give the real animal lovers a bad name.

scum bags, round them up and throw away the key they don,t belong to the human race, its idiots like these who give the real animal lovers a bad name.noddy57

scum bags, round them up and throw away the key they don,t belong to the human race, its idiots like these who give the real animal lovers a bad name.

Score: 59

ikap22
2:09pm Wed 21 May 14

noddy57 wrote…

scum bags, round them up and throw away the key they don,t belong to the human race, its idiots like these who give the real animal lovers a bad name.

Totally I agree, they aren't humans worse than animals.

[quote][p][bold]noddy57[/bold] wrote:
scum bags, round them up and throw away the key they don,t belong to the human race, its idiots like these who give the real animal lovers a bad name.[/p][/quote]Totally I agree, they aren't humans worse than animals.ikap22

noddy57 wrote…

scum bags, round them up and throw away the key they don,t belong to the human race, its idiots like these who give the real animal lovers a bad name.

Totally I agree, they aren't humans worse than animals.

Score: 43

andy1
2:58pm Wed 21 May 14

If these people are guilty dont destroy the dogs. Put them in a cage with the dogs and make them fight for their lives has a warning to others who refer to this barbaric act of sport.

If these people are guilty dont destroy the dogs. Put them in a cage with the dogs and make them fight for their lives has a warning to others who refer to this barbaric act of sport.andy1

If these people are guilty dont destroy the dogs. Put them in a cage with the dogs and make them fight for their lives has a warning to others who refer to this barbaric act of sport.

Score: 38

mavrick
3:16pm Wed 21 May 14

These people are the justification for the reintroduction of the death penalty, theses are the scum of the earth and we have tolerated them for to long. anyone attending a dog fight should also face the same sentence.

These people are the justification for the reintroduction of the death penalty, theses are the scum of the earth and we have tolerated them for to long. anyone attending a dog fight should also face the same sentence.mavrick

These people are the justification for the reintroduction of the death penalty, theses are the scum of the earth and we have tolerated them for to long. anyone attending a dog fight should also face the same sentence.

Score: 30

Steven Seagull
3:38pm Wed 21 May 14

mavrick wrote…

These people are the justification for the reintroduction of the death penalty, theses are the scum of the earth and we have tolerated them for to long. anyone attending a dog fight should also face the same sentence.

A bit harsh but in essence a good shout.

[quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote:
These people are the justification for the reintroduction of the death penalty, theses are the scum of the earth and we have tolerated them for to long. anyone attending a dog fight should also face the same sentence.[/p][/quote]A bit harsh but in essence a good shout.Steven Seagull

mavrick wrote…

These people are the justification for the reintroduction of the death penalty, theses are the scum of the earth and we have tolerated them for to long. anyone attending a dog fight should also face the same sentence.

A bit harsh but in essence a good shout.

Score: 26

Steven Seagull
3:39pm Wed 21 May 14

Status Street pigs.

Status Street pigs.Steven Seagull

Status Street pigs.

Score: 29

Akkybro
4:40pm Wed 21 May 14

The ages of those arrested is a little surprising, I hope they are all named and shamed ASAP

The ages of those arrested is a little surprising, I hope they are all named and shamed ASAPAkkybro

The ages of those arrested is a little surprising, I hope they are all named and shamed ASAP

Score: 33

cathedral citi
5:41pm Wed 21 May 14

This story, is a stark reminder of what goes on in our communities, up and down the country.....
This barbaric 'pastime' is the ultimate insult to animal lovers. These pathetic excuses for 'human beings' who fight the poor dogs, should not only be banned for life from keeping any type of animal, they should be named and shamed, imprisoned, fined heavily, and ordered to serve long community sentences on release from prison, preferably at an animal sanctuary. Make the beggars clean up kennels, stables, etc.....

pathetic b@sturds!

This story, is a stark reminder of what goes on in our communities, up and down the country.....
This barbaric 'pastime' is the ultimate insult to animal lovers. These pathetic excuses for 'human beings' who fight the poor dogs, should not only be banned for life from keeping any type of animal, they should be named and shamed, imprisoned, fined heavily, and ordered to serve long community sentences on release from prison, preferably at an animal sanctuary. Make the beggars clean up kennels, stables, etc.....
pathetic b@sturds!cathedral citi

This story, is a stark reminder of what goes on in our communities, up and down the country.....
This barbaric 'pastime' is the ultimate insult to animal lovers. These pathetic excuses for 'human beings' who fight the poor dogs, should not only be banned for life from keeping any type of animal, they should be named and shamed, imprisoned, fined heavily, and ordered to serve long community sentences on release from prison, preferably at an animal sanctuary. Make the beggars clean up kennels, stables, etc.....

pathetic b@sturds!

Score: 28

fedup with your lies
6:59pm Wed 21 May 14

Disgusted!!! These people are not from the human race. It's stories like these that show how much barbaricism there is within our community.

Disgusted!!! These people are not from the human race. It's stories like these that show how much barbaricism there is within our community.fedup with your lies

Disgusted!!! These people are not from the human race. It's stories like these that show how much barbaricism there is within our community.

Score: 20

thoroughbred
8:12pm Wed 21 May 14

name and shame the evil scumbags, why should they be protected to anonymity?

name and shame the evil scumbags, why should they be protected to anonymity?thoroughbred

name and shame the evil scumbags, why should they be protected to anonymity?

Score: 19

zabby
8:53am Thu 22 May 14

Could always use the scum bags as dog food

Could always use the scum bags as dog foodzabby

Could always use the scum bags as dog food

Score: 12

Truth will out
1:00am Fri 23 May 14

Let's see the LT follow-up on this one. Names and addresses please.

Would anyone really mind if something bad or "unfortunate" happened to these 5 scumbags?

Let's see the LT follow-up on this one. Names and addresses please.
Would anyone really mind if something bad or "unfortunate" happened to these 5 scumbags?Truth will out

Let's see the LT follow-up on this one. Names and addresses please.

Would anyone really mind if something bad or "unfortunate" happened to these 5 scumbags?

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